Police 'could' patrol wrong way driving hot spot

Police say they "could" patrol a Lake District town after more than 250 vehicles were recorded being driven the wrong way in a year.

Traffic in Ambleside is managed by a one-way system, but data collected by campaign group Ambleside The Wrong Way showed 263 incidents of drivers going the wrong way over 12 months.

Members of the campaign group say this is a conservative estimate, and that while some offending drivers were also captured on video, there are likely to have been more incidents that were not recorded.

Cumbria Police told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that "any location identified as a problem hotspot could be subject to patrols".

Insp Holly Lockwood, of Cumbria Police's Roads Policing Unit, thanked the local community for highlighting the issue, and said: "Our roads policing officers patrol Cumbria's roads to ensure safety and any location identified as a problem hotspot could be subject to patrols.

"We would always advise all drivers to drive according to instructions on road signs, take note of speed limits and drive according to the conditions."

She added if people wanted to report an incident they could do so via phone or website "where they submit photographic and video evidence".

Co-founder of the group Andy Astle previously said that he would like to see police enforcement against the issue, as well as a review of signage by Westmorland and Furness Council.

The council met with the Lakes Parish Council last year to discuss the issues and identify potential improvements, updating a number of street signs and markings in response.

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said the improvements were "well received", but recognised Ambleside attracted a large number of visitors who may be unfamiliar with the road layout, adding that there "may be further opportunities to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the one-way system".

The spokesperson said the council would "support appropriate enforcement where necessary."

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